Abstract Details

Title Mobility Impairment Is Associated with Reduced Microstructural Integrity of the Inferior and Superior Cerebellar Peduncles in Elderly with No Clinical Signs of Cerebellar Dysfunction

Topic Aging and Dementia

Presentation(s) P06 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 045

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: Mobility impairment is a common, debilitating feature of aging linked to several pathologic conditions, including cardiovascular, joint and neurological disorders. However, in a significant fraction of older people, poor mobility appears to be of idiopathic origin and several neuroimaging studies show involvement of cerebral white matter ischemic lesions. While the cerebellum plays a critical role in motor coordination and control, no imaging studies have investigated its involvement in age-related motor impairment.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: Mobility was assessed in 85 participants (mean age, 82 years) using the short physical performance battery (SPPB). On the basis of SPPB score, we defined the following three categories: normal (SPPB=11-12), intermediate (SPPB=9-10) and impaired (SPPB<9) mobility. A white matter parcellation atlas was co-registered with the diffusion tensor maps of the brain to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) indices within the superior (SCP), middle (MCP), and inferior (ICP) cerebellar peduncles. Associations of these indices with mobility performance were evaluated.

Results RESULTS: Subjects with impaired mobility showed lower FA values in both ICP and SCP, but not the MCP, compared to subjects with normal mobility (p?0.007). Consistent with this finding ICP-FA and SCP-FA showed a positive correlation with the SPPB score, r=0.415 (p<0.00008) and r=0.306 (p=0.004). No correlations between MD values of the cerebellar peduncles and mobility were found.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that presence of diffused damage to afferent and efferent connections of the cerebellum may contribute to compromise motor performance in older individuals.

Authors/Disclosures
Nicola Moscufo (Brigham & Women's Hospital) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Michele Cavallari, MD (Brigham and Woman's Hospital)	The institution of Dr. Cavallari has received research support from BrightFocus Foundation. The institution of Dr. Cavallari has received research support from Brigham Research Institute. The institution of Dr. Cavallari has received research support from Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The institution of Dr. Cavallari has received research support from Hebrew SeniorLife Rehabilitation Center. Dr. Cavallari has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.
	No disclosure on file
Dominik S. Meier, PhD (Brigham & Women's Hospital)	No disclosure on file
Leslie Wolfson, MD, FAAN	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Charles R. Guttmann	Charles R.G. Guttmann has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Sintetica SA. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Alnylam. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Roche. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Novartis. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Protalix. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Promethee. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from GSK. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Sangamo. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Alcon. Charles R.G. Guttmann has received stock or an ownership interest from Cocrystal Pharma. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from NIH. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from McGill University. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from BrightFocus Foundation. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from University of Connecticut Health Center. The institution of Charles R.G. Guttmann has received research support from U.S. Office of Naval Research.

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